Local Business Gives Back to Area Students in a Constructive Way

Chester County Futures middle school program, Futures AHEAD, will hold the second of two Enrichment Camps for motivated, economically disadvantaged students on Friday, November 17 at Parkview at Chesterbrook. Rockwell Custom, developers of the custom home community, are volunteering their time and resources to provide an exciting day of experiential learning.

Fifty motivated, economically-disadvantaged middle students from throughout Chester County will spend the day meeting professionals in various roles relating to design, construction, development, and energy efficiency in regards to home-building. They will engage with career presenters, and attend interactive workshops. All activities are designed to provide students with the resources and inspiration they need to successfully complete a project by the end of the day. Students will use design thinking to brainstorm a “buildable solution” that could be realistically conceived, constructed, marketed and sold.  Students work with a variety of local business people, interviewing, observing and gaining knowledge to develop a solution and design a home suitable for a customer profile. They present their scale models to a panel of experts and peers.

Through this program students learn about architectural design and homebuilding. They are introduced to basic engineering specifics within building construction, and learn to understand the importance of empathy in the form of customer service. Students were highly engaged while using math and engineering concepts. They had questions about careers in design, homebuilding, construction, finance, and sales. The experts shared stories of their post-secondary paths relating to careers.

The Enrichment Camp was arranged by CCF staff in partnership with Rockwell Custom. “Rockwell and friends exposed our middle school students to the wide array of career options within the real estate development and construction industries. Students learned about civil engineering, interior design, construction and marketing. There was something of interest for everyone! The Rockwell volunteers moved through the day with enthusiasm and consideration for our students. Our students left feeling valued, and that is as important and as empowering as the curriculum learning that took place. As seventh grader Zach from Phoenixville shared, “This is a learning experience!” says Marjorie Dawkins, Director of Student Programs.